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NOBILITY, BARONS, AND COMMONS OF SCOTLAND, 

IN THE YEAR 1320, 

I 

YET EXTANT UNDER ALL THE SEALS OF THE NOBILITY, 

DIRECTED TO 



POPE JOHN: 



WHEREIN THEY DECLARE THEIR FIRM RESOLUTIONS TO ADHERE TO THEIR KING ROBERT THE 

BRUCE, AS THE RESTORER OF THE SAFETY AND LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE, AND AS HAVING 

THE TRUE RIGHT OF SUCCESSION : BUT WITHAL, THEY NOTWITHSTANDING DECLARE, THAT 

IF THE KING SHOULD OFFER TO SUBVERT THEIR CIVIL LIBERTIES, THEY 

WILL DISOWN HIM AS AN ENEMY, AND CHOOSE ANOTHER 

TO BE KING, FOR THEIR OWN DEFENCE. 



AS IT IS INSERT BY SIK SEOKGE MCKENZIE, OP EOSEHAUGH, IN HIS OBSEEVATIONS ON PRECEDENCY, ETC. 



Edinburgh : Re-printed in the Year 1689. 




NEW YORK, MARCH, 1861 : 
PEIVATELY FEINTED BY C. A. ALVOED. 

a 



iy- 



s. 



"U 



e^^- 



Of tlie 284 Popes, from Peter, wlio died A. D. 66, down to Pius IX., in 
1861, tliere were no less tlian 23 of tlie name of John. The one to whom 
this letter was addressed was the 22d, and he died in A. D. 1334. 



^ LETTER 

From the Nobility, Barons, and Commons of Scotland, in the year 1320, yet extant under 

all the Seals of the Nobility, &c. 



SANCTISSIMO Fatri in Ciikisto ac 
Domino, Domino Joanni^ Divina 
Providentia Sacrosanctae Romanse 
& Universalis Ecclesi^e summo Pontiiici, 
Filii sui Im miles & devoti, Duncanus 
Comes de Fyfe, Thomas Kannlphi Comes 
Moraviee, Dominns Manni^, & Yallis 
Anandise, Pat'ricius de Diimbar, Comes 
M.'^Ychi'^^ Malisius Comes de Strathern, 
Malcohnus Comes de Levenox, Williel- 
mus Comes de Ross, Magnus Comes Cath- 
ania3 & Orcadia?, &, Willielmus Comes 
Sntherlandife, TFa^fer'?(^-<?Senescallus Scotite. 
Willielmus de Sonles Buttelarins Scotise, 
Jacobus Dominus de Dowglas, JRogerus 
de Monbra_y, DavidJ)on\m\\'S, de Brechine, 
David de Grahame, Ingelarm.us de Um- 
fravile, Joannes de Menteith Cnstos Com- 
itatus de Menteith, Alexander Frazer^ 
Gilbertus de Haia Constabnlarius Scotise, 
Robertus de Keith Mariscallus Scotise, 
Henricus de Sanctoclaro, Joannes de 
Grahame, David de Lindesey, Williel- 
mus Olipliant^ Patricius de Gi-ahame, 
Joannes de Fenton, Willielmus de Aber- 
nethie, David de Weyras, Willielmus de 
Monte sixo, Fergusius de Ardrosan, Eu- 
stachitts de Maxwell, Willielmus de Ram ■ 
say, Willielmus de Monte alto, Alanus 
de Moravia, Dovenaldus Campbell^ Jo- 
annes Gambiirn^ Regincddus le Chen, 
Alexander de Seton, Andreas de Lesce- 



our most holy Father in Christ, and our 
Lord /o/m, by the Divine providence, chief 
Bishop of the most holy Roman, Sf Universal 
Church, Your Humble and Devoted sons, Dun- 
can Earle of Fyfe, Thomas Randolph Earle of 
Murray, Lord of Mannia, and Anna.ndale, Pat- 
rich de Dumbar, Earle of March, 3Icdisius Earle 
of Strathern, Malcolm, Earle of Lennox, William 
Earle of Ross, Magnus, Earle of Caithness, and 
OrTcney, William, Earle of Sutherland, Walter 
Steward of Scotland, William de Soules, Butte- 
larius of Scotland^, James Lord of Douglas, 
Roger de Mowhray, David Lord of Brechin, 
David de Graham, Ingelramus de Umfravile, 
John de Monteith, Warder of the Countie of 
Monteith, Alexander Frazer, Gilbert de Hay, 
Constable of Scotland, Robert de Keith, Marshal 
of Scotland, Henry de Sancto-Claro, John de 
Graham, David de Lyndsay, William Oliphant, 
Patrick de Graham, John de Fenton, William de 
Abernethie, David de Weyms, William de Monte- 
sixo Fergus, de Ardrosan, Eustachius de Maxivel, 
William de Ramsay, William de Monte-alto, 
Allan de Murray, Donald Gam.pbel, John Cain- 
burn, Reginald le Chene, Alexander de Seton, 



Jyne, &: Alexander de Straton, casteriqne 
Baroiies & Lil)ere-teiieiites, ac tota Com- 
inunitas Re<i;iii Scotioi, omnimodam Hev- 
erentiam lilialem, cum devotis pedum os- 
culis beatorum. Scimus sauctissime Pater 
& Domine, & ex antiquorum Gestis & 
Libris colligimus, quod inter Cfeteras Na- 
tion es egregias, nostra sciz, /Sootorum 
ISTatio, raultis Preeconiis fuerit insignita ; 
Qu^^e de majori Scyrbia per mare Tirenum, 
& Columnas Ilerculis transiens, & in His- 
pania inter ferocissimos, per nnilta tem- 
porum Gnrricuhi, residens, a nullis quan- 
tumcunqueBarbaricispoterat alicubi sub- 
jugari ; Indeque veniens, post mille & 
ducentos annos a transitu populi Israel- 
itici, sibi sedes in Oecidente quas nunc 
obtinet, expulsis Britonibus, & Pictis om- 
ninodeletis, licet per JSTorwegienses, Danos, 
& Anglos saspius impugnata fuerit, multis 
sibi Victoriis, & Laboribus quamplurimis 
adquisivit ; ipsasque ab omni servitute 
liberas ut priscorum testantur historic, 
semper tenuit. In quorum Regno, cen- 
tum & tresdecemPeges de ipsoruni Regali 
prosapia, nuUo alienigena interveniente, 
Regnavei'unt. Quorum Nobilitates & 
merita, licet ex aliis non clarerent, satis 
tamen patenter eiFnlgent, ex eo quod Rex 
Regum Dominus JESUS CHRISTUS, 
post Passionem & Resurrectionem suam, 
ipsos in ultimis Terra? Knibus constitutos, 
quasi primos, ad suam Fidem Sanctissi- 
mam, convocavit; Nee eosper quemlibetin 
dicta fide, contir niari voluit, sed per suum 
primum Apostolum, quamvis Ordine se- 
cundum vel tertium, sanctum Aoidream 
meritissinium beati Petri Germanum, 
qu em semper ipsisprajesse voluit ut Patro- 
num. Haic autem sanctissimi Patres & 
Predecessores vestri solicita mente pen- 
santes, ipsum Regnum & Populum, ut 
beati Prtri Germani peculium, multis 



Andrew do Lescelyne, and Alexander de Straton, 
And tlic rest of the Barons and free-holders, and 
whole community, or Commons of the Kingdom 
of Scotland. Send all manner of filial reverence, 
with devout kisses, of your Blessed, and happy 
feet. 

Most holy Father and Lord, we know, and ga- 
ther from ancient acts, and records, that in every 
famous Nation, this of Scotland hath been cele- 
brate with many praises: ^HhiH Nation having 
come from Sythia the greater, through the Tus- 
can Sea, and by Hercules pillars, and having for 
many ages taken its residence in Spain in the 
midst of a most fierce people, could never be 
brought into subjection by any people, liow 
Barbarous soever : And having removed from 
these parts, above 1200 years after the coming 
of the Israelites out of Egypt., did by many 
Victories and much toile, obtain these parts in 
the West, which they still possess, having ex- 
pelled the Britons, and intirely rooted out the 
PictSi notwithstanding of the frequent assaults, 
and invasions they mett with from the Norve- 
gians, Danes, and English. And these parts, 
and possessions they have alwayes retained free 
from all manner of Servitude, and Subjection, 
as ancient Histories do witness. 

This Kingdom hath been governed by an un- 
interupted succession of 113 Kings all of our own 
Native &c Royal stock, without the intervening 
of any stranger. 

The true Nobility and Merits of those Princes 
and people, are very remarkable, from this one 
consideration, (tho' there were no other evi- 
dence for it.) That the King of Kings, the 
Ziord Jesus Christ, after his passion, and Resur- 
rection, honoured them as it were the first, 
(though living in the outmost ends of the Earth,) 
with a Cidl to his most holy Faith: Neither 
would our Saviour have them confirmed in the 
CItristian Faith, by any other Instrument, than 
his own first Apostle, (tho' in order the second 
or third,) St. Andrew the most worthy Brother 
of the Blessed Peter, whom he would alwayes 
have to be over us, as our patron, or protector. 

Upon the weighty Consideration of these things, 
our most holy Fathers, your Predecessors, did with 
many great and singular favours and priviledges, 
fence, and secure this Kingdom, and People as 
being the peculiar charge, and care, of the Bro- 
ther of St. Peter ; so that our nation hath hitb- 



favoribus & privilegiis quamplurimis mu- 
ni veruiit. Itaque Gens nostra, sub ipso- 
rum protectione, libera hactenus deguit & 
quieta ; donee ille Princeps Magnilicus 
Kex Anglorum Eclwardus Pater istius 
qui nunc est, Regnum nostrum Acepba- 
lum, Populumq ; niillins mali aut doli 
conscium, nee Bellis aut insultibus tunc 
assuetum, sub amici & confoederati specie, 
innumerabiliter inf estavit ; Cujus Inj u rias, 
Cffides & violentias, Priedationes, Incen- 
dia, Prelatorum Incarcerationes, Mon- 
asteriorum Combustiones, Peligiosorum 
Spoliationes, & Occisiones, alia quoque 
Enormia, quce in dicto populo exercuit, 
nulli parcens ^Etati aut Sexui, Religion! 
aut Ordini, nuUus scriberet, nee ad plenum 
intelligeret, nisi quem Experientia iufor- 
maret. A quibus malis innumeris, ipso 
juvantequi post vulneramedetur & sanat; 
Liberati sumus per senerissimum Princi- 
pem, Regem & Dominum nostrum, Do- 
minum jRobertum^ qui pro populo & 
Hffireditate suis, de Manibus inimicorum 
liberandis, quasi oXtev Maccahceus^ ?i,\\XJosue 
Labores & Pgedia, Inedias & Pericula, 
Iffito sustinuit animo. Quem etiam Divina 
Dispositio, & juxta Leges & Consuetu- 
dines nostras, quas usque and mortem 
sustinere volumus, juris Successio, & de- 
bitus nostrOrum Consensus & Assensus, 
nostrum fecerunt Principem atque Regem. 
Cui tanquam illiper quem salus in Populo 
facta est pro nostra Libertate tuenda, tam 
Jure quam Meritis tenemur, & volumus 
in omnibus adhferere. Quem, si ab in- 
ceptis desistet, Regi Anglorum ant Ang- 
licis nos, aut Regnum nostrum volens sub- 
jicere, tanquam inimicum nostrum, &, sui 
nostrique Juris Subversorem statim ex- 
pellere niteremur; & alium Regem nos- 
trum, qui addefensionem nostram sufficiet, 
faciemus: Quia quamdiu Centum vivi 



erto lived in freedom and quietness, under their 
protection, till the Magnificent King Edward, 
father to the present King of England, did 
under the colour of Friendship, and allyauce, 
or confederacie, with innumei-able oppressions 
infest us who minded no fraud or deceit, at a 
time when we were without a King or Head, 
and when the People wore unacquainted with 
warres and invasions. It is impossible for any 
whose own experience hath not informed him to 
describe, or fully to understand, the injuries, 
Blood, and violence, the depredations and fire, 
the imprisonments of Prelates, the burning' 
slaughter, and robberie committed upon holy 
persons and Eeligious Houses, and a vast mul- 
titude of other Barbarities, which that King ex- 
ecute on this People without sparing of any sex, 
or age. Religion, or order of men whatsoever. 

But at length it pleased God, who only can 
heal after wounds, to restore us to Libertie, 
from these innumerable calamities, by our most 
Serene Prince, King and Lord Robert, who for 
the delivering of his People and his own Right- 
ful Inheritance from the Enemies hand, did like 
another Josvm, or Maccabeus, most chearfully un- 
dergo all manner of toyle, fatigue, hardship, and 
hazard. The Divine Providence, the right of 
Succession by the Laws and Customs of the 
Kingdom, (which we will defend till death) and 
the due and Lawfull Consent, & Assent of all 
the People, made him our King and Prince. To 
him we are oblidged, and resolved to adhere in 
all things, both upon the account of his right, 
and his own merit, as being the person who hath 
restored the people's safety, in defence of their 
Liberties. But after all, if this Prince shall 
leave these principles he hath so nobly pursued, 
and consent that we or our Kingdom be subjected 
to the King or people of England, we will imme- 
diately endeavour to expell him, as our Enemy 
and as the Subverter, both of his own and our 
rights, and will make another Kingwlw will defend 
our Liberties. For so long as there shall but 
one hundred of us remain alive, we will never 



remaiiserint, muicqnam, Anylorwin do- 
minio aliqnateniis voluraiis subjugari. 
Non enim propter Gloriani, Devitias 
ant Honores pugnamns, sed propter Lib- 
ertatem soluinmodo, quam nemo bonus 
nisi simul cum vita amittit. Hinc est, 
Reverende Pater ac Domine, quod Sanc- 
titatem vestrarn, cura omui Pnecura in- 
stantia, Genu iiexis Cordibus exoramus; 
Quatenus sincere coi'de, menteque pia re- 
censentes, quod apnd cum cnjus vices in 
terris geritis, non sic pondus, & pondus, 
nee distinctio Judei & Gfceci, Scoti aiit 
Anglici, tribnlationes & angustias nobis 
& Ecclesias DEI illatas ab Anglicis, pa- 
ternisoculisintuentes; Pegem Anglorura, 
eui sutiicere debet quod possidet, cum 
olim Anglia septeni aut pluribns solebat 
sufficere Pegibus, monere & exliortari 
digneniini, ut nos Scotos in exili degetes 
Scotia ultra quam habitatio non est, 
nihilq, nisi nostrum cupientes in pace 
diniittat. Cui pro nostra procnrranda 
quiete quicquid possumns, adstatun. nos- 
trum respectu habito, hoc facere volumus 
cum effectu. Yestra enim interest, Sancte 
Pater, hoc facere, qui Paganorum ferita- 
tem, Christianorura culpis exigentibus, in 
Christianos sa^vientem aspicitis, & Chris- 
tianorum terminos arctari indies : Quare 
ne quid vestras Sanctitatis memorise dero- 
get, & si, quod absit, Ecclesia in aliqua 
sui parte vestris temporibns patiatur Ec- 
clipsin aut Scandahim, vos videritis. Ex- 
hortet igitur Christianos principes, qui, 
non causam nt causam ponentes, se iin- 
gunt in subsidium Terree sanctee, propter 
guerras quas habent cura proximis ire non 
posse; Cujusimpedimenti causa est verior, 
quod, in niinoribus proximis de bellandis, 
utilitas propior & resistentia debilior a?sti- 
mantur. Sic quam Iceto corde dictus Do- 
minus Pex noster, c% nos, si Rex Anglorum 



give consent to subject our selves to the Do- 
mJnion of the English. For it is not Glory, it is 
not Riches, neither is it Honour, but it is Liberh/ 
alone that we fight, and contend for, which no 
Honest man will lose, but with his life. 

For these reasons, most Reverend Father and 
Lord, Wc do with most earnest prayers, from 
our bended Knees and Hearts, beg, and entreat, 
your Holiness, that you may bo pleased with a 
sincere, and cordial piety, to consider, that with 
Him, whose Vicar on Earth you are, there is no 
respect nor distinction of Jeiv, nor Greek, Scots, 
nor English, and that with a tender and Fatherly 
eye, you may look upon the calamities, and 
straits, brought upon us, and the Church of God 
by the English, and that you may admonish, and 
exhort the King of England, (who may well rest 
satisfied with his own possessions, since that 
Kingdom of old used to be sufficient for seven 
or moe Kings) to suffer us to live at peace in that 
narrow spot of Scotland, beyond which we have 
no habitation, since we desire nothing but our 
own, and we on our part, as farr as we are able, 
with respect to our own condition, shall effect- 
ually agree to him in every thing that may pro- 
cure our quiet. 

It is your concernment. Most Holy Father, 
to interpose in this, when you see how far the 
Violence, and Barbaritie of the Pagans is let 
loose to rage against Christendom for punishing 
of the sins of the Christians, and how much they 
dayly encroach upon the Christian Territories. 
And it is your interest to notice, that there be 
no ground given for reflecting on your memory, 
if you should suffer any part of the Church, to 
come under a scandal, or Eclipse, (which we 
pray God may prevent) during your times. 

Let it therefore please your Holiness, to ex- 
hort the ChristianPrinces, not to make the warres 
betwixt them and their Neighbours, a pretext 
for not going to the relief of the Holy Land, 
since that is not the true cause of the impedi- 
ment : The truer ground of it is, that they have 
a much nearer prospect of advantage, and farr 
less opposition, in the subduing of their weaker 
Neighbours. And God (who is Ignorant of 
nothing) knows, with how much cheerfulness, 
both our King, and we would goe thither, if the 
King of England, would leave_us in peace, and 



nos in pace diraittet, illuc iremus; qui 
nihil ignoret satis novit Quod CHRISTI 
Vicario totique Cliristianitati ostendiiiius 
& testamur. Quibus si Sanctitas vestra 
Anglorum relatibus nitnis credula, fidem 
sinceram non adhibat, aut ipsis in nostram 
confusionem favere non desinat ; corpo- 
rum excidia, animanim exitia, & cetera 
quge sequentur incommoda, quss ipsi in 
nobis, & uos in ipsis fecerimus, vobis ab 
Altissimo crediraus itiipntanda. Ex quo 
suraus & erimus in Lis qua3 tenemur, tan- 
quam obedientiefilii, vobis tanquam ipsius 
Vicario in omnibus complacere ; ipsique 
tanquam sum mo Kegi 6z Judici, eausam 
nostram, tuendam committimus : Cogita- 
tum, nostrum jactantes in ipso, sperantes- 
que finem quod in nobis virtutem faciet, & 
ad nihilum rediget hostes nostros. Sereni- 
tateni & Sanctitatem vestram conservet 
Altissimus Ecclesiee sua; sanctte per tem- 
pora diuturna. Datum apud Monasterium 
de AherJjrotlioch in Scotia, sexto die 
Aprilis, Anno Gratise milesimo trecen- 
tesimo vicesimo. Anno vero Eegni Kegis 
nostri supradicti, quiutodecimo. 



we doe hereby testifie and declare it to tlie V'lcar 
of Christ, and to all Christendom. 

But, if your Holynesa, shall be too credulous 
of the English misrepresentations, and not give 
firm credit to what we have said, nor desist to 
favour the English, to our destruction ; wee 
must believe that the Most High will lay to 
your charge, all the Blood, loss of Souls, and 
other calamities that shall follow on either hand, 
betwixt us and them. 

Your Holiness in granting our just desires, 
will oblidge us in every case, where our duty 
shall require it, to endeavour your satisfaction, 
as becomes the obedient Sons of the Vicar of 
Christ. 

We commit the defence of our cause, to him 
who is the Soveraigne King and Judge, we cast 
the burden of our cares upon him, and hope for 
such an issue as may give strength, and courage 
to us, and bring our Enemies to nothing. The 
most High God long i^reserve your Serenity, and 
Holyness to his Holy Church. 

Given at the Monastery of Aberbrothock in 
Scotland, the Sixth day of April, in the year o^f 
Grace M.CCC XX. And of our said King's 
reign the XV. year. 



A FE^V PARTICI^LARS 



CONCERNING 



THE DEATH OE KIFG- ROBERT BRUCE, 

Chiefly extracted from Froissaifs Chronicle : 

To -wliiGli is aclcled. tlie accideiTtal discovery- of his Remains after a 
lapse of five Imnd.i-eci years. 



In the year 132*7, King Robert the Brace, 
then lying at the point of death in the Castle 
of Carclross, called to him from the crowd of 
chieftains and Barons assembled around his 
bed, his own dear and especial friend, Sir 
James Douglas, telling him that since death 
would prevent him from fulfilling a solemn 
vow he had made, of warring on the enemies 
of Christ in the Holy Land, he should die in 
more ease and quiet if his heart were conveyed 
thither ; at the same time urging upon Sir 
James the task, "and concluding in the following 
words : " I will, that as soon as I am trepassed 
out of this world, that ye take my heart out of 
my body and embalm it ; and take of my 
treasures as ye shall think sufficient for that enter- 
prise, both for yourself and such company as 
ye will take with you ; and present my heart 
to the Holy Sepulchre; and wherever ye come, 
let it be known how ye carry with you the 
heart of King Robert of Scotland, at his in- 
stance and desire, to be presented to the Holy 
Sepulchre." Then all the lords that heard 
these words wept for pity ; and when this 
Knight, Sir James Douglas, might speak for 
weeping, he said: "Ah, gentle and Noble 
King, a hundred times I thank your grace for 
the great honor that ye do to me, sith of so 
noble and great treasure ye give me in charge ; 
and. Sir, 1 shah do with a glad heart, all that 
ye have commanded me, to the best of my ti'ue 



power, howbeit, I am not worthy nor sufiicient 
to achieve such a noble enterprise." Then the 
King said, " Ah, gentle Knight, I thank you, 
so that ye will promise to do it." " Sir," said 
the Knight, "I shall do it undoubtedly, by the 
faith that I owe to God, and to the order of 
Knighthood." "Then I thank you," said the 
King, "'for I shall die in more ease of my 
mind, sith that I know that the most worthy 
and sufiicient Knight of my realm shall achieve 
for me that which I could never attain unto." 
And then soon after, this noble Robert the 
Bruce, King of Scotland, trepassed out of this 
uncei'tain world, and his heart taken out and 
embalmed. His remains were honorably in- 
terred in the Abbey of Dunfermline, in the 
year of our Lord God MCCCXXVII, the VII 
day of the month of November. 

In the following spring, Sir James, with the 
King's heart, enclosed in a silver casket, sus- 
pended by a silver chain, and worn around his 
neck, set forward on his expedition. His train 
was numerous and splendid as that of a King, 
having a Knight banneret, seven other Knights, 
and twenty-six young squires and gentlemen 
to serve him. All his vessels were of gold 
and silver; and wherever he stopped, rich 
wines and spices were served to all who came, 
according to their degree. 

Hearing that Alphonso, King of Spain, was 
engaged in a war against the Saracen King of 



10 



Granada, and thinking that he could not do a 
nobler deed than war on " Godde's enemies," 
he determined, before going to Jerasalem, to 
engage in that enterprise ; but advancing too 
liastify on the enemy, and being unsupported 
by the Spaniards, he was separated from his 
companions, and whilst engaged in rescuing 
Sir William St. Ciair of Rosslyn,, found him- 
self so hemmed in as to render escape impos- 
sible. Taking from his neck the heart of 
Bruce, he said, "Pass first in fight, as thou 
Avert wont to do, and Douglas will follow thee 
or die." He then threw the King's heart 
among the enemy, and rushing forward to the 
place where it fell, was there slain witli the 



greater part of his companions. His bodv 
was afterwards found, with the casket lying 
beneath it. Since that memorable day, the 
Douglases have carried upon their shield a 
bloody heai't crowned, and Sir James Lock- 
hard of Lee, wjio had charge of the Bruce's 
heart homeward, took for his device a heart 
with a padlock, his name being changed from 
Lockhard to Lockheart in memory of this 
event. The few surviving Knights brought 
back, also, the remains of the good Sir James 
Douglas. These last were buried in the Church 
of Saint Bride of Douglas, and the heart of 
Bruce betieath the high altar of Melrose 
Abbey. 




DOWGLAS 




Alea. AndersoD, ^£1. 86, Sculpt. 



11 



DISCOVERY OF THE GRAVE OF BRUCE IN LSI 8. 



The Illustrious King died on the 5th No- 
vember 1327, and over his grave, in the Abbey 
Church of Dunfermline was erected a rich mar- 
ble monument, executed in Paris. Centuries 
I'olled on, when the Abbey and the monument 
were ruined, at the time of the Reformation. 
After the restoration, the place where the tomb 
had been erected was known only by tradition 
as the resting place of Bruce. Some years 
afterwards another church was erected on the 
same site, and that second building also became 
a ruin in our own time. But whilst digging 
among the ruins for the foundation of a third 
church, in 1818, the workmen whilst engaged 
among the rubbish of the ancient choir, came 
upon a substructure of cemented stone, which 
was evidently the tomb of some person of dis- 
tinction. It consisted of a large trough of pol- 
ished stone, about seven feet in length, and 
eighteen inches in depth. The cover, when 
first observed, had on it several rings of iron 
much decayed. It contained the mouldered 
fragments of a coffin of wood, within which 
lay a skeleton, wrapped in lead. This was 
unrolled, and around the head was found a 
circlet of lead, placed in the form of a crown. 
The body had originally been wrapped in 
a damask cloth of exceeding fineness, inter- 
woven with gold, many shreds still remaining. 
There were also some nails and fragments 
of wood. The tomb was immediately in 
front of what had been the high altar of the 
original Abbey, and among the rubbish was 



discovered a small coffin plate, on which were 
the words, 

ROBERTUS SCOTORUM REX. 

The tomb was then closed, and notice sent 
to the Barons of Exchequer. A day being then 
fixed for the impressive ceremony, the tomb 
was re-opened in their presence, and that of a 
great many persons of distinction as well in 
literature as art. The royal skeleton, which 
was in a state of perfect preservation, was then 
carefully examined, measured, casts taken, and 
drawings made of it. The length of the skele- 
ton was six feet two inches. The breast bone 
was found to have been sawn asunder in order 
to take out the heart ! thus conclusively prov- 
ing that the remains were those of Scotland's 
most heroic King. 

The discovery created a powerful sensation 
throughout the whole Kingdom, and drew 
many persons of high rank to the spot. A new 
marble coffin had been made, and the remains 
were carefully imbedded in melted bituminous 
matter, when it was consigned to the tomb 
with great solemnity. It is now closely and 
securely pi'eserved by three rows of large 
flag-stones, fastened together by bars of iron. 
Several fragments of marble, carved and gilt, 
were dug from the ruins, in the immediate 
vicinity where the tomb had been erected, 
being in all probability portions of the original 
monument, wdiich had been scattered by the 
breaking down of the ponderous lead roof of 
the original Abbey. 



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pH 8.5 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



021 377 123 1 



Hollinger Corp. 

pH8.5 



